Lesson Plan Supplemental Materials

The purpose of this lesson plan is to help students develop an understanding of the role of the U.S. government and the limits of its power. Students will also develop an understanding of what it means to be an informed citizen, and the power they have to make a change.

Common Core Standards:

Grade 8: U.S. Studies from 1492 to 1877: Exploration through Reconstruction

History Strand

Historical Thinking and Skills

                 1. Primary and secondary sources are used to examine events from multiple

                     perspectives and to present and defend a position.

Government Strand

Civic Participation and Skills

               18. Participation in social and civic groups can lead to the attainment of individual                  

                     and public goals.

               19. Informed citizens understand how media and communication technology                   

                     influence public opinion.

Roles and Systems of Government

20. The U.S. Constitution established a federal system of government, a         

                      representative democracy and a framework with separation of powers and

                      checks and balances.

21. The U.S. Constitution protects citizens’ rights by limiting the powers of

                     government.

In this Google slideshow, I will be introducing key terms and providing student with information about the United States government, the powers of government, as well as information on being an informed citizen and taking part in society.


Government Power and Citization Participation Web Games
This link will take you to a game that students can use to learn vocabulary words learned in the lesson. These games will reinforce information learned throughout the week, and there are different games that students can choose to play (so every student should find at least one that they like!)



This post-lesson assessment will be used to see what the students have learned throughout the lesson.

My Technology Lesson Plann

My Technology Lesson Plan

Growing up Online

Growing up online is a video that discusses how technology is taking over the lives of children in our society today. Everywhere you turn, at home, in school, everyone - technology is literally in the faces and hands of children around the world. This video discusses how technology can positively and negatively affect the lives of children today. Not just their social lives, but there personal lives as well and the family member around them.

1. A survey by the Pew Internet & American Life Project found that in 2004, 67 percent of parents said the Internet has been a good thing for their children. However, this number decreased to 59 percent in 2006. In 2012, 69% of parents of online teens said they were concerned about how their child’s online activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities, with some 44% being “very” concerned. Cite some reasons why parental support for their children’s independent internet use is decreasing. Why do you think the number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their children has decreased?

I think think that more and more parents are becoming aware that there is a lot going on in the internet world, than they are not aware of. Some parents are afraid of predators, while other are afraid of cyberbullying. On the internet, not everyone is who they say they are. Not every child understands the consequence of what they put out on the internet, or the information that they give away can do. Pretty much, these kids are letting strangers into their personal lives without even knowing it. Some children do not understand the dangers that they could encounter. I think the number of parents who reported the Internet being a good thing for their children has decreased is because these children do not know or understand the consequences that their actions may have.

2. More teachers are using tools to try to detect cheating or deter students’ inclination to cheat. In the program, we see the use of plagiarism-detection tools like Turnitin.com and writing assignments completed during class time to make sure students do their own work and generate their own ideas.

How can we as educators stop students from using material they found online as their own work? Should that be considered cheating, in your opinion?

One educator states in the video that we should take cheating as a given. He further states that we should also not simply say that cheating is cheating, but that we should better define what cheating is. Personally, I believe that cheating is cheating. Taking someone else’s words, ideas, etc. is simply that - THEIRS. It does not belong to you if you did not say it or come up with the idea yourself. I think that the teacher who thinks that not all cheating is cheating, is wrong. I do not agree that rules should be bent, or that students should learn that cheating is okay sometimes. I think that cheating is wrong all the time.  

3. One student claims he "never reads books" but relies on summaries and annotated notes he finds on Web sites. He confesses that he feels guilty about this, stating, "I feel like I kind of cheated it."

In your opinion, should he feel guilty? Why or why not?

Yes, in my opinion he should feel guilty. He took a shortcut because he said he “didn’t have time” to read it. He said that he feels like he owes it to himself to read it, but that he doesn’t have time. He also acknowledges that he would have enjoyed reading it if he had. So, not only did cheat the read by taking a shortcut with sparknotes (and going against his school policy), he has cheated himself out of a good read. Romeo and Juliet is a classic story (that is the story he did not read) and had he read it in the first place, he would have been doing the right thing. He would’ve also had the opportunity to read a classic story, and as a teenager, it may have been a story that he could’ve related to since Romeo and Juliet were teenagers as well.

4. Before the Internet, in order to be seen by the world, you had to be portrayed in some form of mass media, and you had to be famous in some respect -- in the news, in politics or as a celebrity. Now anyone can be seen online by anyone else in the world. Some people have become famous for videos or photos they’ve posted (such as Autumn Edows).

In your opinion, should people like Edows, or others who become “ famous” through their online presence, be considered “celebrities?”

Has the ability to create an online persona, and receive worldwide attention for it, affected our cultural values?

In my opinion, no - I do not think that people should be famous for posting videos or pictures online. People should be famous for their talents - like singing, dancing, acting etc. Anyone can go online and posts videos or picutres. I think the the ability of creating an online persona, where people can view videos and pictures of people worldwide has had a defining impact on our cultural values. Anyone can posts videos and pictures online - anyone. In society today, younger generations think that the more “likes” you get on social media makes you “famous” or “popular”. But they don’t realize, someone who sings good and someone who sings bad can both post a video singing the same song. Does it make them famous? - No, I don’t think so. Talent is what makes a person a famous.

5. Shows like "To Catch a Predator" on Dateline NBC (http://www.nbcnews.com/id/10912603/) contribute to parental anxiety about online media. It is obvious that certain elements of programs like “To Catch a Predator,” and even this documentary, will likely increase parents’ fears.

Cite one current event from the past year where a young person has been affected (positively or negatively) by being active online. (find a linkto a news story, describe it in your answer to this question, and provide the link as well). Click here to see an example of what I’m looking for.

Rebecca Sedwick is a 12 year old girl who jumped to her death in September of this year She was bullied online, not by social media that everyone is aware of, but but new media. This article discusses how these new cites can be a harmful source and a new way for cyberbullying. These cites are ask.fm and KIK.  These are cites that everyone should be aware of. Cites like these, and cyberbullying led to the death of Rebecca Sedwick, a 12 year old girl.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/10/living/parents-new-apps-bullying/index.html?iref=allsearch

6. Teasing, lying, gossiping, threatening, spreading rumors or harassing online (and offline)can severely affect people’s self-concept and self-esteem and have an impact on their emotional state. In the program, we see one girl who describes flirting with boys and then revealing she was just kidding. She explains: "You wouldn’t do that to someone’s face, but online is completely different. ... No one can do anything. You’re at your house, they’re at their house."

In her quote, this teen is describing Suler’s disinhibition effects. Which one do you think it is, and why?

She was describing the Invisibility disinhibition effect. This has the effect of “you can’t see me”. While having an online conversation with someone, they cannot hear your voice, hear your reaction, or see the look on your face and vice versa. While online, you may do or say things you wouldn’t otherwise do. You can say what you want, and they cannot do anything about it. Simply, you are invisible in the online world.

7. At the end of the program, Greg decides it’s time for him to "disconnect" by going to the Coast Guard Academy, where he will spend seven weeks without cell phones or the Internet.

Have you ever thought about "disconnecting" from it all?

Do you think it would be easy or difficult for you personally?

What would you enjoy or dislike about disconnecting?

I have never thought about “disconnecting” from it all. I remember using the internet when the internet first started. I was a teenager, and since then, the online world has been a big part of my life. I use the internet for online schooling, research, and I do use facebook but I do not get on there every day. I think, if I ever wanted to disconnect, that it would be easy to do. Of course I do rely on the internet for information, I could still find other ways to get the information I need. However, I would still NEED to use the internet for my college courses. Cell phones are another story - I only have one phone, a cell phone. I do not talk on my phone all the time, but I do have it on my all the time in case of emergencies. I do not have a house phone, so my phone is something that I could not give up - simply because it is the only way I can make a phone call. However, I do have a smart phone, and I could easily disconnect from the smartphone world, and go back to a regular phone. It would be hard, because I’m so used to it (that would be the thing I would dislike about it), but I could do it!

Tech Tool Review

by Jennifer Jenkins

National and State Technology Standards

1. The purpose of the National Education Technology Plan (NETP) is to increase the number of college graduates who holds a two-year or four-year degree from around 41 percent to 60 percent by the year 2020. This will close the gap on the number of students who graduate from high school ready to succeed in college and in their careers.

I think that this goal puts a lot of pressure on teachers and students, however it is possible. Yes, this is a 20 percent increase - but there is still time to reach that goal. I think that these numbers may be scary to teachers and students and be a real wake up call, but it is needed. In order for America to continue and to be successful, our future depends on these children and what we as educators are teaching them.

2. Main Assumptions:

• Many of the failings of our education system stem from our failure to engage the hearts and minds of students.
• What students need to learn and what we know about how they learn have changed, and therefore the learning experiences we provide should change.
• How we assess learning focuses too much on what has been learned after the fact and not enough on improving learning in the moment.
• We miss a huge opportunity to improve our entire education system when we gather student-learning data in silos and fail to integrate the information and make it broadly available to decision-makers at all levels of our education system—individual educators, schools, districts, states, and the federal government.
• Learning depends on effective teaching, and we need to focus on extended teams of connected educators with different roles who collaborate within schools and across time and distance and who use technology resources and tools to augment human talent.
• Effective teaching is an outcome of preparing and continually training teachers and leaders to guide the type of learning we want in our schools.
• Making engaging learning experiences and resources available to all learners anytime and anywhere requires state-of-the-art infrastructure, which includes technology, people, and processes that ensure continuous access.
• Education can learn much from such industries as business and entertainment about leveraging technology to continuously improve learning outcomes while increasing the productivity of our education system at all levels.
• Just as in health, energy, and defense, the federal government has an important role to play in funding and coordinating some of the R&D challenges associated with leveraging technology to ensure the maximum opportunity to learn.

I think that many educators may take offense to the first assumption, because it may be taken as educators are not doing their “job” and teaching children effectively. Administrators may also take on this same feeling in that they are not running the district appropriately when they feel they may be doing the best they can. I think that some of these assumptions do seem harsh, unless you focus on the big picture of things. Students may feel like they are failing because their work is giving the school or district a bad score. However, in all aspects, change can only come from within - and it is up to everyone to make a difference. Administrators, teachers, and students need to work together to make a better learning experience.

3. Five Essential Areas

1.0 Learning: Engage and Empower

All learners will have engaging and empowering learning experiences both in and out of school that prepare them to be active, creative, knowledgeable, and ethical participants in our globally networked society.

2.0 Assessment: Measure What Matters

Our education system at all levels will leverage the power of technology to measure what matters and use assessment data for continuous improvement.

3.0 Teaching: Prepare and Connect

Professional educators will be supported individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that enable and inspire more effective teaching for all learners.

4.0 Infrastructure: Access and Enable

All students and educators will have access to a comprehensive infrastructure for learning when and where they need it.

5.0 Productivity: Redesign and Transform

Our education system at all levels will redesign processes and structures to take advantage of the power of technology to improve learning outcomes while making more efficient use of time, money, and staff.

The 21st century competencies are critical thinking, complex problem solving, collaboration, and multimedia communication. While students are using these real-world tools, they are learning and given opportunities that will allow them to deal with real-world problems and they will be prepared for the real world. These competencies will allow student to be productive members in a competitive workplace.

4. The State of Ohio’s Education Technology Plan aligns with the National Education Technology Plan  by incorporating more technology in and outside of the classroom, building an infrastructure that will help the success of students and educators, and better preparing students for college and the real world. They big difference in which they are not aligned is that the State of Ohio Plan does not involve as much government input as the National Education Technology Plan details.

5. The two plans are aligned by incorporating more multimedia and broadcasting, more technology in and out of the classroom, incorporating federal programs, and expanding the data system. The difference is that the State of Ohio’s Education Technology Plan focuses on virtual learning, and the NETP does not gear as much towards that area.

6. I think that these measurements put a lot of pressure of educators and students when the expectations seems out of reach/not possible. It is hard to access the “number of students” in some areas. There may not be student who want to take college credits at the same time as high school, or AP courses. Some students may not want to take distance learning courses, or on-line courses. How can you base number on something that may be simply a student preference or not? That may be a hard “goal” to reach given that student preferences will be different.

ORC Lesson Plan

The lesson plan that I choose is a social studies lesson plan for grade 5 - titled First Amendment Rights - Grade 5. In this lesson, students experience (for a short period of time, approximately 30 minutes) what it would be like to live in a society where there is dictatorship. After the torturous 30 minutes comes to an end, the students get their voices back. Now the fun begins, and the students get to learn about the First Amendment rights they have and how they have an impact on their daily lives. Students will work together in class and in groups coming up with new ideas of how they can make a change in their school/classroom with policies that they do not agree with. Students will also keep a daily journal focusing on how their lives are affected by the First Amendment and what each aspect of freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and the right of petition and assembly means to them. Students will learn how they can make a difference in their society (in school or in their community), because of the rights they have as citizens of the United States.

OHIO SOCIAL STUDIES ACADEMIC CONTENT STANDARDS (2010)

Grade 4: Ohio in the United States

Government Strand

Civic Participation and Skills

15. 

Individuals have a variety of opportunities to participate in and influence their state and national government. Citizens have both rights and responsibilities in Ohio and the United States.

Rules and Laws

19. 

The U.S. Constitution establishes a system of limited government and protects citizens’ rights; five of these rights are addressed in the First Amendment.

SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS (2001)

Citizenship Rights and Responsibilities

Grade Level Indicators (Grade 5)

3.

Explain the significance of the rights that are protected by the First Amendment including:

1. Freedom of religion;
2. Freedom of speech;
3. Freedom of the press;
4. Right of petition and assembly.

I think that there are many students that do not fully understand their rights as United States citizens. Most kids are under the impression that they have to go to school, listen to their teacher, do their homework, go home, listen to their parents, and then start over again on the next day. They may think they are just kids, but there is a bigger picture, an important aspect that this lesson will teach students - students are also citizens with a voice. All citizens in the United States have a voice, and a right to express their opinions and make changes on things they do not believe is right or fair to everyone. Even as students, they can make a change in their school and/or in their community. I will use this lesson to show that to students. I want my students to understand the importance of the First Amendment in the Bill of Rights and that these rights apply to them, even as kids -because they are citizens of the United States.

I think that the biggest problem with this lesson plan is that it may not be exciting enough for kids. Yes, it is interesting, but it could be more exciting. The start of the lesson has a big "wow" factor and will get the students' minds rolling - but that excitement needs to be sustained for the rest of the lesson in the days to come. So, I will need to research and try to incorporate a few more things into the lesson that may add some time to the lesson/change the length, but will make it more exciting and fun for the students. I think the part that would challenge the students the most is staying on task. The lesson itself is not too difficult for this age group, but at this age students may get a little "goofy" with this lesson. For example, students may want to change the food that is served in the cafeteria because they think it is nasty and they want it to taste better - but what their focus should be on, is how is the food unfair for students in the classroom and how can you make the choices fair/accessible to all students (i.e., what other options could be made available for students who cannot eat dairy products?). I think students will be challenged in thinking seriously and staying on task - but for the most part, I believe this lesson will be a learning experience that they will take to heart and take seriously once they understand the First Amendment a little better and how they truly can impact/change their school or society for the better. They may only be students, but they are citizens of the United States that have rights which give them power to make a difference!

https://ims.ode.state.oh.us/ODE/IMS/Lessons/Web_Content/CSS_LP_S06_BB_L05_I03_01.pdf

Pinterest in the Classroom

First of all, I think Pinterest is AWESOME! I have used Pinterest personally for home decor ideas, craft ideas to do with my nephews and niece at home, and recipes, etc. In making a teacher Pinterest page, I have learned that there is a TON of information out there for teachers to use! I am, without a doubt, positive that I will use Pinterest all the time as a teacher. I will use it for lesson plans, bulletin board ideas, classroom management ideas, activity ideas....honestly everything! I think the biggest strength of Pinterest is that a lot of people and teachers use it! All of these great ideas on Pinterest are able to be shared simply by "pinning it" to your board, so you can in turn share it with others. The only challenge that I have experienced with Pinterest, is that you have to key search using the same words that most others would use for the same subject. I have, in the past, searched for things and found no results, but then came across a different key search with the results I was looking for the first time! The only comment I have for others about Pinterest, is that if you haven't already established a Pinterest account, you should do it! Whether a teacher, parent, artist, cook, reader, traveler, there are so many different ideas that I'm sure you would find an interest in! Everyone all around the world get on Pinterest to share their ideas with everyone else around the world in all areas/aspects of life and careers! There is so much to gain from Pinterest! Truthfully, I love Pinterest!

Khan Academy and Coursera

Khan Academy - www.khanacademy.org

When I first visited the site, I did see this as something I would use myself. I think it is always better to see what other ways of learning/teaching is possible. I will also encourage my future students to use this website. I have even shown this website to my nephew already (he is a sixth grade student), and I think it will help him a lot with his math homework. Math is one of those subjects where there are so many different ways of doing a problem. I think this site would be helpful not only as possibly a different method to a math problem, but it would serve as a second tool to use to reinforce math skills learned. I do think that the videos are easy to follow on the site, and I believe that the step-by-step instruction is crucial. I think that Salman Khan takes his time in going through the steps of a problem and that is crucial for math. One little mistake can change everything! I do believe that Salman Khan is right when he states that we will rely more on "credentialing" through the use of online courses. I do think that this style of education makes learning way more accessible for more students. I am decent at math, but I don't know calculus. If my nephew (just one example) were to come home from high school one day with a question, I may not know the answer - and online learning is a great way to find out this information! Even if you're not sure about something - you can always find an answer online!


Coursera - www.coursera.org

When I explored the Coursera course offerings, I really found interest in finance and computer technology classes. Columbus State does not accept Coursera transfer credits. I think that Coursera courses would be as interesting as online courses at Columbus State. I really do like the set-up of modules that Koller talked about in her speech. (Where you can learn each topic in different steps instead of everything at once). I have taken a lot of online courses at Columbus State, and I believe my experience would be almost the same between the two. I do think that MOOCs (massive open online courses) are the wave of the future. I believe that being able to take online courses, at your own pace, and earning credentials for it (certificates, etc.) will really be a big part of our future. The available access to students, and free education will open many more opportunities for students to go to school and work full-time without suffering from money and time constraints. MOOCs are great opportunities for all students, and it will be a wave of the future.

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Ohio DL Schools

If I wanted to pick a DL school for my child to attend, out of the five schools listed above, Ohio Virtual Academy would be my number one choice – hands down. I think that the website is set up very nice to provide a lot of the information you want to know about a school. It’s nice to know that there are “no secrets” and that there is nothing being kept from you. I also really liked how the FAQ’s were setup around the students, because it’s always important how the student will feel at a new school, and how they will be able to interact socially as well. My least favorite school out of the five, was Virtual Community School of Ohio. It was very technical. There are no pictures of younger students, and there is no FAQ page. Right away, this school did not appeal to me. And if the website is bad, it sort of makes me question how bad the school is. (First impressions mean a lot!) 

DL choices available for K-12 student in Ohio

Connections Academy

Connections Academy from the start has a great look and appeal when first viewing the website. The website is very clear in describing the information about the school, the curriculum for each grade level, as well as the technology information that is involved in the education offered. The look and feel of the DL environment is very comfortable. There are pictures of students studying on computers, and many links that provide additional resources to the students. The FAQ page is pretty straightforward, but there is a lot of useful information on there. It does answer a lot of questions of what is involved with DL, as well as how the process works.

ECOT

ECOT is not as friendly looking as most K-12 school website would imagine to be, but the website is very clean and organized. One nice thing about the website is that there are videos that help to inform you about what they’re school is like. You can see a student working online, as well as obtaining more information about the teachers. However, there were not many direct links on the main page that provided more in-depth information about the school. The feel of the DL environment is a little “scripted”. Maybe a better way of saying it, is that the site is too formal. (To me, a website can be both professional and personable). The FAQ page was very short. The most basic questions were answered, but there wasn’t much depth to the questions.

Ohio Virtual Academy

The main page of Ohio Virtual Academy’s website has a ton of information. There are phone numbers, a question box, and many other links to get useful information about the school – fast! The look and feel of the DL website is very welcoming. There are many colors used, and pictures of students on each page. The website gives a lot of information about what the school is all about. The FAQ page was very helpful. What is different from the other schools so far, is that the FAQ page answers more personal questions about the student and their experiences during school. Some questions that are answered are what opportunities are available to the child, as well as how the child will interact socially with other virtual students.

Virtual Community School of Ohio

The information provided on Virtual Community School of Ohio’s website is very clear and easily understandable. However, the feel of the DL environment seems very technical and a little more for “older” students (high-school aged). There is not as much information on this website as there were for the other schools. There is also no FAQ page. There is only the basic information provided for this school on their website.

Virtual Schoolhouse

The Virtual Schoolhouse website is clearly understandable. There are links for curriculum information as well as a school directory. There is even a handbook to view online that gives more information about what the school has to offer and what is expected. The look and feel of the DL environment is welcoming. There are pictures of students on the site, and many different resources available to learn more about the school and what is offered to students. However, there is no FAQ page. This makes it hard to find answers to those questions you really want to know, right now!

Assistive Technology for students with Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)

            A traumatic brain injury is an injury to the brain that is caused by an external force. A traumatic brain injury can result in impairments of a child’s language, attention, judgment, problem-solving, motor abilities, information processing and speech (just to name a few). These impairments have a major impact on how a child learns in a school setting. A child’s behavior, attention span, thinking and reasoning skills, and problem-solving skills that children use every day in the classroom are a few examples of impairments that a child suffers from. Not only are the student’s cognitive skills affected, but so are the student’s social behavior. These impairments would all affect a child’s learning, understanding and completing of work in the classroom – as well as their behavior in the classroom around other students and teachers.

            One type of assistive technology that is available for students with traumatic brain injuries is the WatchMinder. This device looks like a watch, but it has capabilities where a student can record their own messages reminding them of certain things. Some reminders could be, “Do Math Homework” or “Take Your Time”. There are even programmed phrases already recorded. The WatchMinder can be used to remind students of important homework information, positive reminders, or special events that are happening that day.

            There are many great application for students to download on iPhones and iPads. A great resource for some useful information is www.brainline.org. On this website, there are 27 different applications (some free, and some charge a small fee) to be downloaded for use for school work or everyday life (full link is listed below under references). The one that I like the most, was the Voice Card application. Instead of traditional notecards (flashcards), student are able to record a question or work, and the record the answer or definition. I think this is a great tool for students with a short attention span because it allows students to hear the information, rather than read it.

            I can see the future of assistive technology expanding in many ways. There are already many different tools for both students and adults to use in their studies and everyday lives. I believe that the technology will grow to become more adaptable and easier to use for individuals with traumatic brain injuries. With technology, it is always changing and new tools are always being created.  I think that as time passes, more technology will be incorporated into the classroom to assist all learners.

References

http://nichcy.org/disability/specific/tbi

http://cbirt.org/tbi-education/assistive-technology/assistive-technology-students-tbi/

http://www.brainline.org/content/2011/05/23-lifechanging-iphone-ipad-apps-for-people-with-brain-injury.html

http://watchminder.com/about-us/what-is-the-watchminder-

PicMonkey

Hey everyone! This is me - Miss Jenkins, and this is the first picture I have ever edited using PicMonkey. I must say, that while I do not have a lot of experience with editing photos online, I really did enjoy learning about this software. PicMonkey has a lot of great features, and the easiness of learning the new software was smooth for the most part - especially for a beginner like myself. I used some of the tools for creating a background for my picture and even used the airbrush feature! My favorite features were the blemish fix and teeth whitening features. While this software is free (you don't have to download it), it would be nice to have more features to use. At first, I didn't like going through and using a couple different features to edit my picture and fall in love with the results, only to find out I needed to upgrade to use them - for example, the craft scissors frame option! (Bummer!) However, once I learned what features I was able to use, I stuck with those and the process of completing/editing my photo went more smoothly. Overall, I like PicMonkey. I like that this program is free (no download) and has options for editing photos that other programs do not!

My GoAnimate Video

First Day of School by MissJ6 on GoAnimate



In my GoAnimate video, Chelsea is a 6th grade student and she forgot some of her school supplies at home. I can foresee this happening on my first day as a teacher. Even though I "made up" this video....what happens to my character (the teacher) on my first day of school, will probably happen to me in real life. I want to be able to welcome my students into my classroom, and to make them feel comfortable enough to come to me if they need help with anything. I also want them to know that I can relate to them as well, and that we are all in this experience together!

QR Code

 http://goqr.me/

My Prezi

Thank you for taking the time to view my Prezi. My intention for this Prezi is to show my fellow bloggers why I want to teach, and what I want to teach. I am studying to become a middle school teacher, and hope to teach science and social studies to yound adults - preferably 5th, 6th, or 7th grade. I found some great information that is included in my Prezi, that has great information on how to incorporate student learning and technology in both of the subjects I want to teach. I think it is important for me to share not only my passion about teaching with my fellow bloggers, but some of this information in my Prezi may be useful to you as well. I hope you enjoy it!

 I found that Prezi was fairly easy to use. This was my first adventure using the program, but I do like it. I really like the ease of adding pictures and videos into the presentation. It was a little odd at first with having to get used to it (I am used to PowerPoint), but overall I enjoyed the experience. I do plan to use Prezi in the future! Overall, it was an easy program to learn! It was also very easy to upload it to my blog!

Three Great Teacher Blogs

I want to teach middle school Science and Social Studies, so I have gone on a hunt for three great teacher blogs. Here is a list of three great teacher blogs that I believe are great resources:

1. http://teachingjunkie.blogspot.com/

This is a great blog for any future middle school teacher who wants to teach science. Her pictures of her classroom layout are welcoming and idealistic for the "older" middle school student. She is an 8th grade science teacher who provides a lot of science resources that are very helpful for the classroom. She also has some great ideas for student involvement!


2. http://worldhistoryeducatorsblog.blogspot.com/

This is a great blog! There are so many different videos and even some experiments that incorporate technology and social studies in the classroom. There are also some videos that incorporate technology for the use in any middle school classroom, that any middle school teacher would find helpful. There is a lot of useful information on this page!


3. http://waterforsixthgrade.blogspot.com/

This is a blog that I found from a 6th grade social studies teacher. He incorporates his students into his blog and has them interact on his website. I think this is an awesome idea that I would love to do as a teacher. I can't wait to see his posts this school year and will be checking in frequently for updates!

Welcome to my Blog

Hello and welcome to my blog! My name is Jennifer Jenkins and I am from Columbus, Ohio. I love Buckeye football, coffee, music, and spending time with my family. I help raise my nephews and my niece - they are my pride and joy! :) My favorite season is Fall! In my spare time I try to spend as much time with my family as possible, but I do also enjoy reading a good book when I have the time! Coffee is something I must have every day - honestly, I live on coffee! :)

My main goal that I hope to accomplish as an educator is to have an impact on the future of our society. I am studying to be a middle school teacher, and I want to do more than teach, I want to make a difference. I do not simply want to be an educator but also a positive influence. I want to teach students and also develop a relationship as a mentor for them throughout their education. I believe that education is a lifelong journey that never ends. So while I am teaching my students, I also want to learn from them. We're never too old to learn! :) I'm hoping to also be able to help my students appreciate the subjects they are learning and to get interested in them. I want to teach science and social studies. Science is always changing, and history is always being made. As a child, these were my two least favorite subjects. As an adult, I appreciate them more and understand how much more of an importance they hold on my life and my surroundings. I'm hoping that as an educator I can help students to not only learn the subjects but to help them understand how they impact their personal lives. Most importantly, I want my students to HAVE FUN while learning!